Family Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Lawyers

Family Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Lawyers

When a relationship breaks down, reaching a solution that works for all parties can be easier said than done, particularly when trying to communicate with your ex-partner. Our team can help you to resolve divorce or separation disputes through a family mediation service, collaborative family law, or arbitration.

It’s natural not to agree on everything, but that doesn’t mean your divorce or dissolution has to be settled in a court. We can work with you to arrange your finances and protect your children’s future through constructive out-of-court processes.

Every family or relationship set-up is different, so our team will consider your individual circumstances and then decide whether mediation, collaboration, or arbitration is most appropriate. Alternative resolution allows you to achieve outcomes that are more likely to stand the test of time, and, more importantly, avoid costly court action.

There are plenty of other benefits to reaching an out-of-court agreement with the help of collaborative lawyers:

• You may want to arrive at a resolution quickly and avoid taking court action. We have the skills to help you reach a negotiated settlement through mediation, collaboration or arbitration – where the solutions can be reached promptly, the options more flexible and the costs can be more manageable.
• By keeping matters out of court you can resolve issues in a non-confrontational way that can save time and costs.
• We give clear, frank and reassuring advice to help you choose the best way forward. We help with matters of all sizes, including international divorces and where couples have extensive wealth or complicated business interests.

Out-of-court paths to reach agreement

The courtroom can be an unpredictable and unfriendly place. There are three out-of-court methods that offer you more control and flexibility over the decisions being made:.

• Family mediation service – Discussing issues between you and your ex-partner with an impartial mediator to help to reach an agreement.
• Collaborative family law – Openly discussing issues with your ex-partner, along with your lawyers, to try to negotiate an agreement together with the family’s best interests kept in mind at all times.
• Family arbitration – The outcome of your case is decided by a neutral arbitrator as if they were a judge in court.

Decisions by arbitration are legally binding. Agreements reached collaboratively or by mediation become legally stamped as part of a court order.

Out-of-court agreements don’t work for everyone. If one person refuses to be honest about the financial circumstances, or are not prepared to try to come to an agreement, then your case will probably need to be decided in court

Why choose Shakespeare Martineau?

• From family mediation through to arbitration, our experienced collaborative lawyers have an intimate understanding of the processes that can help you to achieve an out-of-court resolution.
• We are a top 55 law firm that employs 27 Legal 500 lawyers, including collaborative family law experts who are recognised throughout the industry.
• Across all areas of family law, our team offers a professional yet empathetic service to ensure that mutually beneficial resolutions are reached without conflict.
• Our track record is exceptional – we’ve helped to resolve many disputes like yours through mediation, collaboration, or arbitration in the past.